Deflectable catheter assembly having compression compensation mechanism

Abstract

A deflectable catheter assembly having a compression compensation mechanism is disclosed. The deflectable catheter assembly comprises a catheter shaft having a catheter proximal section and a catheter distal section. A therapeutic tool is disposed within the catheter shaft. A compression compensation mechanism is coupled to the therapeutic tool to compensate for a length change in the catheter shaft such as when the catheter shaft is deflected. The compression compensation mechanism includes a spring moveably disposed between a distal stop and a proximal stop that are attached to the therapeutic tool. A deployment slide is moveably disposed proximate to the spring and between the distal stop and the proximal stop. A catheter handle configured to house the compression compensation mechanism is coupled to the catheter shaft.

1. A deflectable catheter assembly comprising:
 a catheter shaft having a catheter proximal section and a catheter distal section; 
 a therapeutic tool disposed within said catheter shaft; 
 a compression and extension compensation mechanism coupling to said therapeutic tool to compensate for a length change in said catheter shaft, said compression and extension compensation mechanism including a spring moveably disposed between but not extending beyond a distal stop and a proximal stop, the spring fixedly attached to the distal stop and to the proximal stop to compensate for a compression in length of the catheter shaft by applying a force on the distal stop in the proximal direction, the distal stop and proximal stop being attached to said therapeutic tool; 
 a deployment slide moveably disposed proximate to and attached to said spring, said deployment slide between said distal stop and said proximal stop, said deployment slide to deploy said therapeutic tool; and 
 a catheter handle coupled to said catheter shaft, said catheter handle to house said compression and extension compensation mechanism. 
 
     
     
       2. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 1  wherein said catheter shaft is deflectable. 
     
     
       3. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 1  wherein said compression compensation mechanism coupled to said therapeutic tool at a proximal end of said therapeutic tool. 
     
     
       4. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 1  wherein said catheter shaft is deflectable and a tendon is disposed within said catheter shaft, said tendon configured to deflect said catheter distal section when being pulled on. 
     
     
       5. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 1  wherein said needle further comprises a stop mechanism that controls extension and retraction distance for said therapeutic tool. 
     
     
       6. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 1  wherein the spring compresses or extends to compensate for said length change in said catheter shaft. 
     
     
       7. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 1  wherein said catheter shaft includes a lumen for said therapeutic tool to be disposed therethrough. 
     
     
       8. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 1  wherein said catheter shaft includes a lumen having a tendon disposed therethrough to deflect said catheter shaft, said lumen is located approximately in the center of said catheter shaft at said catheter proximal section and is located off-center of said catheter shaft at said catheter distal section. 
     
     
       9. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 1  wherein said therapeutic tool is located approximately in the center of said catheter shaft at said catheter distal section. 
     
     
       10. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 1  further comprises a compression cage disposed in the catheter shaft distal section to prevent compression in said catheter distal section. 
     
     
       11. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 1  wherein said therapeutic tool is a needle. 
     
     
       12. A deflectable catheter assembly comprising:
 a catheter shaft having a catheter proximal section and a catheter distal section; 
 a therapeutic tool disposed within said catheter shaft; 
 a compression and extension compensation mechanism coupling to said therapeutic tool to compensate for a length change in said catheter shaft, said compression and extension compensation mechanism including a first spring and a second spring moveably disposed between but not extending beyond a distal stop and a proximal stop that are attached to said therapeutic tool to compensate for a compression in length of the catheter shaft by applying a force on the distal stop in the proximal direction; 
 a deployment slide moveably disposed between and attached to said first spring and said second spring; and 
 a catheter handle coupled to said catheter shaft, said catheter handle to house said compression and extension compensation mechanism. 
 
     
     
       13. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 12  wherein said compression mechanism is coupled to said therapeutic tool at a proximal end of said therapeutic tool. 
     
     
       14. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 12  wherein said therapeutic tool further comprises a stop mechanism attached to said therapeutic tool at a therapeutic tool distal end to control extension and retraction distance of said therapeutic tool. 
     
     
       15. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 12  wherein said first spring is attached at one end to said distal stop and at another end to said deployment slide, and wherein said second spring attached at one end to said deployment slide and at another end to said proximal stop. 
     
     
       16. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 12  wherein catheter shaft is deflectable. 
     
     
       17. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 16  wherein a tendon disposed within said catheter shaft, said tendon configured to deflect said catheter distal section when being pulled on. 
     
     
       18. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 12  wherein said therapeutic tool is a needle. 
     
     
       19. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 12  wherein the spring compresses as the catheter shaft is compressed and experiencing said length change to prevent said needle deployment slide from moving proximally to compensate for said length change. 
     
     
       20. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 12  wherein said catheter shaft includes a tendon disposed therethrough to deflect said catheter shaft wherein said catheter shaft includes a lumen for each of said tendon and said therapeutic tool to be disposed therethrough. 
     
     
       21. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 20  wherein said lumen for said tendon is located approximately in the center of said catheter shaft as said catheter proximal section and is located off-center of said catheter shaft at said catheter distal section. 
     
     
       22. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 12  wherein said needle is located approximately in the center of said catheter shaft at said catheter distal section. 
     
     
       23. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 12  further comprises a compression cage disposed in the catheter shaft distal section to prevent compression in said catheter distal section. 
     
     
       24. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 12  wherein said second spring stabilizes said needle deployment mechanism. 
     
     
       25. A deflectable catheter assembly comprising:
 a catheter shaft having a catheter proximal section and a catheter distal section, said catheter distal section being deflectable; 
 a tendon disposed within said catheter shaft, said tendon configured to deflect said catheter distal section when being pulled on; 
 a therapeutic tool disposed within said catheter shaft; 
 a compression and extension compensation mechanism coupling to said therapeutic tool to compensate for a length change in said catheter shaft as said catheter shaft is deflected, said compression and extension compensation mechanism including a spring moveably disposed between but not extending beyond a first proximal stop and a second proximal stop that are fixedly attached to said therapeutic tool, wherein the spring is fixedly attached to the first proximal stop and to the second proximal stop to compensate for a compression in length of the catheter shaft by applying a force on the distal stop in the proximal direction; 
 a therapeutic tool deployment slide moveably disposed proximate to and fixedly attached to said spring, said deployment slide between said first proximal stop and said second proximal stop; and 
 a catheter handle coupled to said catheter shaft, said catheter handle to house said compression and extension compensation mechanism. 
 
     
     
       26. A deflectable catheter assembly comprising:
 a catheter shaft having a catheter proximal section and a catheter distal section, said catheter distal section being deflectable; 
 a tendon disposed within said catheter shaft, said tendon configured to deflect said catheter distal section when being pulled on; 
 a therapeutic tool disposed within said catheter shaft; 
 a compression and extension compensation mechanism coupling to said therapeutic tool to compensate for a length change in said catheter shaft as said catheter shaft is deflected, said compression and extension compensation mechanism including a first spring and a second spring moveably disposed between but not extending beyond a first proximal stop and a second proximal stop that are fixedly attached to said therapeutic tool to compensate for a compression in length of the catheter shaft by applying a force on the distal stop in the proximal direction; 
 a therapeutic tool deployment slide moveably disposed between and attached to said first spring and said second spring; and 
 a catheter handle coupled to said catheter shaft, said catheter handle to house said compression and extension compensation mechanism. 
 
     
     
       27. A deflectable catheter assembly comprising:
 a catheter shaft having a catheter proximal section and a catheter distal section; 
 a therapeutic tool disposed within said catheter shaft; 
 a compression and extension compensation mechanism coupling to said therapeutic tool to compensate for a length change in said catheter shaft, said compression and extension compensation mechanism including a biasing member moveably disposed between a distal stop and a proximal stop, said biasing member fixedly attached to said distal stop and to said proximal stop to compensate for a compression in length of the catheter shaft by applying a force on the distal stop in the proximal direction, the distal stop and proximal stop being attached to said therapeutic tool; 
 a deployment slide moveably disposed proximate to and fixedly attached to said biasing member, said deployment slide between said distal stop and said proximal stop, said deployment slide to deploy said therapeutic tool; and 
 a catheter handle coupled to said catheter shaft, said catheter handle to house said compression and extension compensation mechanism. 
 
     
     
       28. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 27  wherein said catheter shaft is deflectable. 
     
     
       29. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 27  wherein said catheter shaft is deflectable and a tendon is disposed within said catheter shaft, said tendon configured to deflect said catheter distal section when being pulled on. 
     
     
       30. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 27  wherein said therapeutic tool further comprises a stop mechanism that controls extension and retraction distance for said therapeutic tool. 
     
     
       31. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 27  wherein the spring compresses or extends to compensate for said length change in said catheter shaft. 
     
     
       32. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 27  wherein said catheter shaft includes a lumen for said therapeutic tool to be disposed therethrough. 
     
     
       33. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 27  wherein said catheter shaft includes a lumen having a tendon disposed therethrough to deflect said catheter shaft, said lumen is located approximately in the center of said catheter shaft at said catheter proximal section and is located off-center of said catheter shaft at said catheter distal section. 
     
     
       34. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 27  wherein said therapeutic tool is located approximately in the center of said catheter shaft at said catheter distal section. 
     
     
       35. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 27  further comprises a compression cage disposed in the catheter shaft distal section to prevent compression in said catheter distal section. 
     
     
       36. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 27  wherein said therapeutic tool is a needle. 
     
     
       37. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 27  wherein said biasing member is any one of an elastic component, a silicon component, a rubber band, an elastomer, air pressure, air cylinder, and an electro magnet, a spring component and a constant force spring. 
     
     
       38. A deflectable catheter assembly as in claim, wherein the spring is attached to the distal stop. 
     
     
       39. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 38  wherein the handle further comprises a recessed slot having a proximal recess slot portion and a distal recess slot portion at which the slide can be locked into position. 
     
     
       40. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 12  wherein the first spring is attached to the distal stop, and the second spring is attached to the proximal stop. 
     
     
       41. A deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 40  wherein the handle further comprises a recessed slot having a proximal recess slot portion and a distal recess slot portion at which the slide can be locked into position. 
     
     
       42. The deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 38  further comprising a lever extending through and having a portion disposed external to the recessed slot, the lever slidably constrained within the recessed slot. 
     
     
       43. The deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 41  further comprising a lever extending through and having a portion disposed external to the recessed slot, the lever slidably constrained within the recessed slot. 
     
     
       44. The deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the spring causes the force by pulling on the distal stop and the proximal stop. 
     
     
       45. The deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 44 , wherein the force on the distal stop in the proximal direction results in a net force on the needle in the proximal direction causing the needle to be moved in the proximal direction. 
     
     
       46. The deflectable catheter assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the spring is fixedly attached to the distal stop and to the proximal stop to compensate for movement of the deployment slide in the proximal direction by pulling on the distal stop in the proximal direction.